The trip came with some hiccups. First, it was tong's suspected HFMD. While I adamantly believed that it was not (later to be confirmed by Dr Khoo to be flu only when we got back from Malaysia), I wanted to make sure that the other families with small kids were ok for us to join.
Then the daddies who were driving the cars were all down with some viruses...Mr LKY's funeral was happening on Sun, we did wish to witness the monumental event. On Sat night, Eden came down with fever. sigh...but it was going to be heart breaking if we suddenly changed plans, the kids were so enthusiastically looking forward to the event and most of them went to bed really earlier than usual (even Xun and Tong) as they knew they had to wake up early next morning...
Glad to say, we did set off after all....weeeeeeee
met up at the coffee shop near Venus Bridal, the traffic at the customs was bearable, so we got through in less than an hour.
After a hearty breakfast, all the kids were raring to go
tong's favourite cousin, little baby Jayron.
and xun's favourite of course, the other only girl among all the cousins
While the adults mingled around having conversations, the little munchkins started playing...like Xun and Max in a deadly duel
Good thing papa had subscribed to a data plan in Malaysia so he was able to use Google Maps to navigate the way to Desaru. papa exclaimed that Google Maps was one of the best inventions in the world, ya much better than GPS which needed constant uploading of new maps and was not intuitive to users' needs.
Saw this impressive looking bridge...sky looked overcast...over at Singapore's side where thousands had taken lining the streets where the cortege would pass through, the weather was ominous too.,
Ha Aunt Lindy got a shot of the two black cars - papa first, Uncle ZH following behind
Ah ha, we reached at a really great timing at 11ish and actually could check into our rooms. I had thought that it was a separate bungalow with three rooms, turned out to be part of the apartments too, one big apartment with three bedrooms.
the sprawling place looked modern and well-maintained.
the kids who ran amok once they spotted the beds. They were just dashing from room to room, bouncing on all the beds they could find for the entire 2 plus hours when the adults were glued to the television for Mr Lee's funeral procession.
Ha, what an adorable picture, it made my heart melt to see them so loving and close
eh...still missing Jayron and Caysen...and Caysen's new baby sister...and I supposed some more from Xiaoshu, xiao biaogu and papa's younger cousins in future
The adults had gathered solemnly in the living room
There was a torrential downpour, the public continued to brave the rain and those involved officially never flinched a single bit...i sobbed...the country had been good to me, I mourned the man who had a large part in building it
meanwhile, the kids were gorging on junk food, they opened packets and packets of tidbits, sweets, hiding in some secret corner, having their surreptitious picnic
tong came up to us a few times asking when we could go out to play. papa coaxed him by saying we got to wait for the rain to stop..actually the rain had stopped for quite some time, but tong was obedient and kept waiting patiently...well...the junk food, sweets and company helped
All the energy that could not be contained...
We went to the hotel's water park. Eh...there were a playground, a lazy river, another area with deeper waters for the adults and a splash zone with a gigantic coconut. Not entire spectacular, but nothing deterred the kids from having fun.
this was one slippery slide, xun came down and knocked into JJ, both having had a great fright. Ha...xun dared not try the other slides initially after this as the pink one really scared her.
After much persuasion, with daddy holding her, she finally tried the red one, which was not as frightening.
papa pretended he was strolling in the rain and beckoned for xun to join him
Eden was not allowed to come in : ( he stayed with his mama, Jayron and Aunt Val
the playful papa waited under the humongous coconut
joined by the other two papas, mama seriously thought the daddies had the best time at the water park
there was another slide at the splash zone, rather slow and bumpy, so the kids had no qualms playing on it
as for the adults, it was an excruciating slow jerky ride.
now 2nd grandaunt joined the waiting party
papa held tong and tong was dismayed to have water pouring into his eyes and nose
the pitiful tong who was recovering from the shock
Aunt val brought containers for the kids to play...so they used them to scoop water, put on the heads as hats...
eh...then to collect leaves...
papa commented it looked like water cress soup..haha
the kids had been waiting eagerly for the lazy river to be opened. eh...the daddies went to try it out
here, they were waiting to catch a glimpse of papa in the lazy river...turned out that the currents were very strong and there was a speedy cess pool in which they might overturn, so it was not too safe for the kids. What a pity.
Never mind, we used the floats in the kids' playground then. they lugged one another around.
they bumped into each other, formed trains
the valiant tong wanted to scale the rock wall
and he DID IT.
tong wanted to push jie but she rather wanted to paddle with her own feet...so papa asked tong to push him. Papa mentioned there were unflattering photos of him in the blog, to which mama replied blithely, "too bad, too sad."
After an hour plus, we rounded up the kids to go back to wash up
saw this cut out and they had to take photos. xun and tong
gayle and max
Could not believe it when they shouted they wanted to bathe together. hahahah...I asked them to cover up their private parts so I could take these photos..
Aunt Val thought these photos were really cute and funny
We drove a long way out to Jade restaurant to eat. So famished was I (we skipped lunch), that I totally forgot to take photos. good thing Aunt LIndy did. ha. it was a nicely done up restaurant, totally different from the roadside zi char stall we saw someone blog about a few years ago. Now it was in its own spanking new building and air-conditioned. The food was delicious and sumptuous. Lobsters, crabs, fish...the bill came up to S$400 plus for two tables, and ah gong paid for it. Yum Yum.
Xun went to sit with the triplets at the other table, ha.. so convenient, we could eat at ease with Aunt Lindy's family looking after all the munchkins.
and of course, they must check out the live lobsters
oooo...a shot of the "elderly"
We had wanted to rush back to the hotel to take the chartered transport out to the firefly place. But...it would be additional travelling and we would be hard pressed for time. Thank goodness for the data plan again, we found some blog stating the location and used the google map to locate the place.
there was a floating seafood restaurant too...but ah gong said it probably would not be as good as Jade restaurant, probably simpler fares.
We were surprised that the boat was one huge wooden platform so many people could go on the tour together and it felt so safe. Saw many fireflies, some of the trees even appeared luminous in the night, mama was really bemused by it. papa explained the leaves were curved and they reflected the moonlight. In any case, it was a magical sight. Luminous leaves and sparkly fireflies. nice. Truly a sight to behold.
Heading back after the 30 min boat ride.
the kids bathed and continued playing...
I was teasing xun back in Spore that the triplets might mock her for still drinking from a milk bottle. Alas, the triplets were still drinking from milk bottles...heh...they even had a milk party, wanting to drink side by side. Finally, at 1130am, it was lights-out time for the kids.
30 Mar
we agreed to leave for breakfast at 830am. Heard Jayron's chirpy voice at 7ish and tong woke up :)
bathed them and all went out to watch TV. The adults in the other room had eaten their breakfast, so they babysat the kids while we went for a leisurely breakfast, for ONE FULL HOUR, sans any whining ones...what a treat.
after the breakfast, a group photo of the mums and dads of room 503.
aunt lindy realised that we did not have a group photo when we were heading back to Spore.
notice that spideman bag uncle edward was carrying? He had sneaked 3 pratas, nuts, ikan bilis and sweet potatoes back from the restaurant. So sneaky and quick he was, he must have done this many times...hahahahah
now the kids' turn to feast
the twins in matching tops and coincidentally fluffy pink tulle skirts
going to explore the rest of the hotel's grounds
we hopped on a big buggy
Not very successful wefies, we needed the selfie stick!
tong had to check out the birds as he loved birds
there was a vintage fire engine on display
Nothing beat frolicking in the cool waters at the beach...eh, the daddies and kids went, while the mummies hid in the shelter.
check out Jayron's cute little dimple
I asked Aunt Lindy why xun xun looked so sad in this photo that she had taken. She said xun was upset that gayle went further up to build the sandcastle.
Here, Gayle was walking back towards Xun. I asked xun and she nodded, saying Gayle took her pail. ha...sounded like a lovers' tift
Eden seemed to have recovered and now relishing playing with the rest
We could not bear staying on the beach for too long...it was really blistering hot
After washing up, we went to the mini fun fair for the kids. They were so thrilled to be able to sit in the bumper cars finally!
Tong was totally skillful and dashing in maneuvering his ride, he would deliberately go and knock his jie jie or the sides, and he would jiggle his head whenever there was an impact. ha
we lined them up...
tong insisted on being different
while the rest stood, he would intentionally sit down...that rascal
everyone had an individual shot with their ride, except tong, who refused to oblige
more rides and games
the daddies were just chilling...
Next up, the crocodile farm. Did not expect too much but it turned out to be really interesting.
oooo check out the skulls
for $2, you could have a photo with the baby crocodile
only papa and 2nd grand aunt took up the challenge
went into the farm...
some picturesque spots
saw the feeding of the crocodiles...apparently, they only needed to eat once a week...
the keeper took a long time to lure them to the chicken, they were sooooo lazy
went around the vast farm...there were some really old ones, as old as 200 years old
tong woke up from his nap. He was really interested in the crocodiles and particularly intrigued by those with no tails.
read some articles about how useful every part of the crocodile's body was. like the bones which was full of calcium and could be grounded into powder for making soups. Told aunt val to make this for JJ. tong asked papa to bring him back to see the crocodiles he missed when he was asleep. i thought he really enjoyed himself there.
We went for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Eden and JJ fought to sit next to Xun, that resulted in tears for JJ...oh my oh my. The same thing happened yesterday when both boys wanted to hold xun's hand too. Aunt Val remarked that mama needed to have one more daughter to ease the shortage of girls. Diaoz. hahaha...
During lunch, tong asked incessantly why some crocodiles were born without tails. He was really affected by it. we had thought of stopping at Kota Tingi water fall, or even shop at some mall...alas, it was already 4pm! It was a one hour plus ride to the customs..so we had to head back straight away.
in the car, xun was heard weeping a few times..."I miss gayle..."
the kids had a thoroughly enjoyable time...after packing up, we finally settled for the night. In the middle of the night, xun suddenly woke up and asked, "mama, what's your favourite part of the day?" it was a question we always talked about when we concluded each day but we had forgotten that night. I replied my usual answer, "snuggling in bed with you and tong." and she gushed, "my favourite part was going to Malaysia with my cousins." what a blessed thing to have such a big extended family. Such precious wonderful memories.
So...till next trip..I was sure, we would be going somewhere soon again.
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